The National Federation of Independent Business has launched a statewide radio and digital ad campaign urging the state legislature to “Stop Florida Lawsuit Abuse” and support Gov. Ron DeSantis’s plan to curb frivolous legal actions that can bankrupt small businesses.
“This is the most important issue affecting Florida’s small businesses in this year’s legislative session,” said NFIB State Executive Director Bill Herrle, who announced the campaign today at a news conference in the 4th-floor rotunda of the Florida State Capitol. “Our task is to let small business owners know that the time win lawsuit abuse reform is now.”
“House Bill 837 and its companion in the Senate, SB 236, are facing fierce opposition from the trial lawyers,” Herrle said. “We believe the governor’s proposal would balance the scales of justice.”
“We are mobilizing our small business members and making sure their legislators hear directly from them,” Herrle said. “Lawsuit abuse gets worse and worse every year. It’s time the legislature stops it.”
If passed, HB 837 and SB 236 would:
- Repeal one-way attorney fees in most cases, undercutting “you don’t pay if we don’t win” advertising claims.
- Prohibit plaintiffs from collecting an award if they are found to be more than 50% responsible for their own injuries.
- Limit “bad faith” claims, which is how overzealous trial lawyers win awards in excess of a business’s insurance policy limits.
- Require “truth in damages” to stop bad doctors from colluding with unscrupulous trial lawyers to inflate medical damages.
“Supporting HB 837 and SB 236 would stop Florida lawsuit abuse and provide greater certainty for Main Street businesses still recovering from the economic downturn that began three years ago this month with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Herrle said.
Listen to the 30-second radio ad below.
Here is a transcript:
“For decades, trial lawyers have targeted and preyed upon Florida’s small businesses. Now, there’s a real effort in Tallahassee to reduce lawsuit abuse, and with your help, we can get it over the finish line. This reform would bring more jobs to Florida and protect small businesses from frivolous lawsuits that could put them out of business permanently. Visit NFIB.com/StopFloridaLawsuitAbuse and learn how you can help stop lawsuit abuse and save Florida’s small businesses. Paid for by the National Federation of Independent Business.”
The digital ads will connect readers to NFIB.com/StopFloridaLawsuitAbuse, which outlines the legislation and shows them how to contact their legislators.
